Air sterilizer and humidifier



Dec. 9, 1941. H. w. SCHAEFER 2,265,252

AIR STERILIZER AND HUMIDIFIER Filed Feb. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec.9,1941. H. w. SCHAEFER AIR STERILIZER AND HUMIDIFIER Filed Feb 25, 19402 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 AIR BTEBILIZER AND HUMIDIFIEBHarold William Schaefer, Chicago, Ill., minor to The Harry Alter Co.,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 23, 1940,Serial No. 320,340

2 Claims. (Cl. 261-80) The present invention relates in general to fluidwnditioning and disseminating apparatus and is more particularlyconcerned with improved apparatus of such character, which is soarranged as to enable variation and control of the characteristics ofthe fluid being disseminated, and which is more specifically arranged topermit irradiation of not only the fluid being conditioned anddisseminated, but also the medium utilized for conditioning the fluid.

The conditioning of fluids such as air and the.

like in homes, buildings, etc., and in the carrying out of manyindustrial processes, is becoming of increased importance and newapplications are rapidly being developed. Of particular importance isthe control and conditioning of air in spaces to be occupied by humanbeings, es-' pecially with reference to the control of humidity ormoisture of the air. Various types oi. humidifying devices have beensuggested, these devices in the main comprising a casing having a ductfor the circulation of the air tobe conditioned, this casing housingmeans whereby the air may be subjected to a liquid as water in such away that moisture will be absorbed by the air and its humidity therebyvaried during the passage of the air through theduct.

-In many of the present arrangements, particularly in the portable typesof air conditioners,

it has been found desirable for reasons of economy to re-circulate theair. One vchief objection, however, to this re-circulation of air isthat its germ and bacteria content may continue to increase as a resultof its being breathed, even though the conditioning apparatus may beprovided with means for washing and cleaning of the re-circulated air.

Where water is provided in a reservoir of the apparatus for use inhumidifying the air, it has also been determined that where theapparatus is not used for a period of time or the apparatus isinfrequently used, the water in the reservoir may become rancid and, infact, this water has been known to develop germ cultures. As aconsequence, it becomes highly desirable to provide suitable means notonly for eliminating the germs and bacteria in the air beingconditioned, but also to purify the water being utilized for humidifyingthe air. ,7

Accordingly, therefore, the present invention seeks" to provide improvedapparatus wherein the air is not only conditioned with reference to itstemperature and moisture content, but also is irradiated with short-wavelength light such as ultra-violet radiations, which effectively killsthe fying the water which is used for humidifying the air, and soprevent rancidity of the water.

It is a furthervvobject of the herein described invention to provide acompact fluid conditioning apparatus, wherein improved means areembodied for irradiating the fluid that is to be conditioned,'and alsothe medium which is dispersed into the fluid during the conditioningoperation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide. in apparatus ofsuch character, novel means for agitating the conditioning medium whileit is being irradiated, and for dispersing the conditioning medium intothe fluid that is being conditioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such apparatus improvedirradiating means that are so located as to enable the apparatus to beselectively operated to humidify only the air being conditioned,irradiate the air only, secure a combination of the above, and which mayalso be utilized to efiect different ozone characteristics in the airleaving the apparatus.

A still further object is to provide an improved method of disseminatingan irradiated medium and carrying it to a position of use. e

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof, andin which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying the features of thepresent invention, portions being cut away and shown in section toindicate the cooperative relationship and constructional features of thevarious parts of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal'section oi the same, taken substantially online II--II of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a detailed view showing the appearance of a portion of theevaporator wheel of the apparatus, when looking towards one end thereof.

As shown on the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus isdisclosed as comprising a casing or housing as generally indicated at I,which may be supported on suitable feet H of cushioning material securedto the bottom of the housing.

The bottom portion or this housing islmademidity of the air. The bottom.of the-casing. if desired, may be provided with a suitable drain lug I3.

p This casing in its upper portion above the uppermost level of thewater cooperates with the upper surface of the water to define alongitudinally extending air duct or chamber ll. This duct communicatesat one end with an inlet opening I! at one end of the casing, and anoutlet opening it at the opposite end of the casing, these openingsbeing disposed above the uppermost surface of the water and axiallyaligned. j

The inlet opening is preferably provided with a projecting protectivegrille l1, and the outlet opening it is provided with control louvers,as generally shown It, by which the amount and direction of air issuingfrom the duct may be controlled externally of the casing.

Adjacent the inlet opening ii, there is provided an inverted U-shapedshield member i9, which is slightly larger in diameter than the inletopening and is'supported in axial alignment therewith from the top ofthe casing. This shield member acts to direct the inlet air through theduct in the proper direction, but since it is open towards the water inthe lower portion of the casing, the entering air may contact theuppermost surface of the water and cause turbulence or agitationthereof.

For inducing forced flow of air through the casing, there is provided asuitable fan having blades disposed in the inlet opening I, with theirleading edges disposed exteriorly of the easing-and protected by thegrille II, the trailing I edges of the blades being disposed within themember i9.

v This fan is driven by a suitable motor 2| which is supported from thetop of the casing by an appropriate bracket 22.

. The driving shaft of the motor 2! is oppositely extended from the sideon which the fan is disposed and connects with a driving pulley 23,which is driven at reduced speed through suitable speed reducingmechanism 24 which may be in the form of a worm and gear.

At the opposite ends of the casing below the inlet and outlet openingstherein, there are provided angular brackets 25 and 28 for respective-1y supporting bearings 21 and 28, in which an elongate shaft 28 ismounted for rotation. This shaft is provided with a pulley which isoperatively connected with the pulley 23 by means ofa suitable belt 3 I.

The shaft 29 and pulley 30 are thus supported above the upper level ofthe water in the bottom ofthe casing, and adjacent the outlet opening I!the shaft 29 carries a wheel 32 forming an evaporator element.

. The wheel 32 is arranged to dip into the liquid in the bottom of thecasing and to carry liquid into the stream of fluid being conditioned asit passes from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the casing.While this wheel may .be of any suitable construction, it is preferredtoprovide a construction as shown which embodies a central hub portion33 surrounded by a rim made up of alternate plain and undulated stripsof foraminous material such as screening. In this construction, as shownin Figure 3,

v the assembled strips provide transversely extendi-ng corrugations 34between the uncorrugated strips, which effect channels through the rimportion of the wheel for the passage of air in its movement to theoutlet opening of the easing. Surface tension of the liquid picked upfrom.,the bottom of the casing by the wheel causes the formation ofliquid films in the screen interstices thus affording ideal conditionsfor rapid evaporation. Thus, the humidifying and cooling effect isgreatly enhanced and carried out with increased efiiciency.

The upper portion of the wheel lying within the air duct is shielded byan arcuate bame plate which is laterally connected to side wall portions36 and 31, these side wall portions being respectively provided withopenings 3! and ll which are in alignment and act to guide the airthrough the rim portion of the evaporator wheel.

The upper part of the casing is provided with a hinged door 44permitting access to the interior of the casing and through which theliquid in the bottom of the casing may be replenished from time to time.

The apparatus thus far described constitutes an air conditionerorhumidifier which may be disposed in a room or building for circulatingand humidifying the air therein. Since the arrangement for reasons ofeconomy is arranged to re-circulate the air in the space where it isinstalled, it will readily be apparent that if this space is occupied byhuman beings who are breathing and exhaling the air, thisair may becomefilled with germs and bacteria. Moreover, it has been found, inconnection with such apparatus, that if it is only used occasionally orat rather long intervals, and water in the lower portion of the casingis permitted to stand without being agitated, germ cultures and livingorganisms may be formed therein which would make it unfit for use in thehumidifier.

In order to effectively purify not only the air which is beingcirculated, as well as the water in the casing, the present inventionmakes use of an ultra-violet light generator which has the property ofkilling the germs and bacteria.

In the present instance, this generator is in the form of an elongatelamp which is supported at its ends in suitable terminal sockets II and42, these sockets bein supported on the side walls of the casing and insuch position that the lamp will extend across the air duct above thesurface of the liquid in the bottom of the casing. Moreover, the lamp ispreferably arranged ahead of the evaporator wheel, but in such positionthat the radiation from the lamp will fall upon the foraminous stripscomposing its rim portion. Due to the formation of liquid film, in thisportion of the wheel the liquid is most readily treated by the radiationfrom the lamp and rendered sterile. .Also, as the wheel rotates,sterilized portions on the wheel will be carried into the liquid in thebottom of the casing.

It will be appreciated that under ordinary conditions the penetratingpowers of the radiations into the liquid in the bottom of the casingwill be rapidly diminished as they pass into the liquid,

In order to overcome this disadvantage, the rotation of the evaporatorwheel is utilized to continually stir and move the particles of liquid,so that untreated portions are being continually presented at theuppermost surface of the liquid fortreatment by the ultra-violetradiations. Moreover, the action of the fan blades in movingthe airthrough the duct also acts on the surface of the liquid causing smallripples or turbulence in 1 this portion which materially enhance thetreatment of the liquid. Ultra-violet lamps of this character areavailable from a number of manufacturers. The lamp which is illustratedgenerates ultra-violet radiations or light by the ionization of a gassuch as mercury vapor. Of course, the envelope of the lamp isconstructed of appropriate material to permit the passage of theultra-violet radiations efliciently, and, if desired, the interior ofthe casing surrounding the lamp may be coated with aluminum or someother suitable material which reflects, instead of absorbing, theultra-violet radiations.

While only one generator or lamp has been disclosed, it will beappreciated that several of these lamps may be utilized if foundnecessary. The lamps are connected to a suitable source of energy, and,if desired, a suitable switch 43 may be provided for controlling theselamps. With the lamp installed as described above, the same source ofultra-violet light is utilized both for treating of the air and theliquid in the bottom of the casing, thus producing a very economical andemcient arrangement.

The apparatus embodying the present invention is very flexible in itsoperation. With the ultra-violet generator disconnected from its supplycircuit, the air may be simply humidified, or with the belt 3|disconnected relative to either the pulley 23 or the pulley 30, the airmay be simply circulated with or without purification by ultra-violetradiations from. the lamp. On the other hand, any combination of theabove may be obtained.

It will also be appreciated that by means of this apparatus it ispossible to eifect diflerent ozone characteristics in the air beingdischarged from the apparatus.

It is thought that my improved method of disseminating an irradiatedmedium and carrying it to a position of use will be readily understoodfrom the foregoing description, when it is considered that theirradiated liquid'in the bottom of the casing is dispersed into the airand thus carried by the air to a position of use.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides an improved, compact apparatus for fluidconditioning, wherein novel means are provided for irradiating the fluidthat is to be conditioned, and also the medium which is dispersed intothe fluid during the conditioning operation; which includes a novelarrangement of parts for agitating the conditioning medium while it isbeing irradiated, and which is also utilized for dispersing theconditioning medum into the fluid that is being conditioned; which isselectively operable to effect different desirable characteristics inthe conditioned medium in accordance with the requirements of the placewhere the apparatus is installed; and which embodies an improved methodof disseminating an irradiated medium and carrying it to a position ofuse.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention, and it is therefore not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope andspirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising an, elongated casinghaving a lower portion defining a reservoir for liquid, and having endwalls provided with means defining inlet and outlet openings,respectively, said casing having an upper wall cooperable with thesurface of the liquid in the reservoir to define an air duct, a motor onsaid upper wall and depending into the air duct, said motor having afirst shaft, fan

blades on said first shaft and positioned adjacent the inlet opening, asecond shaft positioned below said first shaft and extendinglongitudinally of said casing, bracket means on said end walls, bearingson said brackets supporting said second shaft for rotation, gear meansconnecting said second shaft with said first shaft, revolva-ble means onsaid second shaft and adjacent the outlet opening movable through theliquid to carry films of liquid across the air duct for the comminglingof air and liquid, and means in said air duct and positionedintermediate said motor and said revolvable means to emit sterilizingrays to sterilize the liquid in the reservoir and to sterilize air inthe air duct.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising an elongated casinghaving a lower portion defining a reservoir for liquid, and having endwalls provided with means defining inlet and outlet openings,respectively, said casing having an upper wall cooperable with thesurface of the liquid in the reservoir to define an air duct, 9. motoron said upper wall and depending into the air duct, said motor having afirst shaft, fan blades on said first shaft and positioned adiacent theinlet opening, a second shaft positioned below said first shaft andextending longitudinally of said casing, bearing means supporting saidshaft for rotation, means connecting said second shaft in drivingconnection with said first shaft,

